IHR Seminar: The MindSpot Clinic: Outcomes from an Australian virtual mental health service for adults with anxiety and depression

A seminar hosted by the Complex Interventions Research Group.

The MindSpot Clinic is an Australian virtual mental health service providing services to adults with anxiety and depression. All MindSpot services are delivered via telephone, online technology, or printed workbooks. MindSpot is funded by the Australian Department of Health as part of an initiative to explore the potential of virtual mental health services.

MindSpot has been operating since 2013, and now serves 20,000 people each year. The majority (80%) of these people are not using other mental health services, and about 40% live outside metropolitan areas. This talk will provide a description of the services provided at MindSpot, characteristics of people using the service, and outcomes of treatment. It will also describe challenges and limitations in delivering this model of virtual care.

Nick Titov is a Professor of Psychology at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. He is Co-Director of the eCentreClinic (www.ecentreclinic.org) research unit, which develops and evaluates psychological treatments for high prevalence disorders including anxiety disorders, depression, and chronic pain. Nick is also Project Director of two virtual clinics, the MindSpot Clinic (www.mindspot.org.au) and PORTS (www.ports.org.au), which deliver the treatments developed at the eCentreClinic to adults across Australia. Nick is a Clinical Psychologist, he serves on the state board of the Psychology Board of Australia, and is an advisor to the Australian Government on matters pertaining to digital mental health services.